> Owen Robertson wrote:
> > on 8/13/02 7:46 PM, Martin Marshall at martinm_at_allwest.net wrote:
> >
> >
> >>This may be a bit off topic.
> >>
> >>I received a forwarded message that originated from lindows.com. They
> >>are in a suit with Microsoft regarding the use of "Lindows,com".
> >>Microsoft is suing Lindows for trademark violation. In the message,
> >>Michael Robertson, with Lindows, is looking for old documentation of the
> >>use of the word "windows" and "windowing" prior to 1983. I can't think
> >>of a better resource than this list to find these references. The
> >>relevant part of the forwarded message is quoted below.
> >>
> >>Maybe some of the list members can provide the needed info to
> >>lindows.com
> >
> >
> > I have some old (late seventies/early eighties) computer graphics books that
> > have entire chapters on windows. What about the Lisa. It came out in 1983,
> > but I'm assuming that Apple used the term 'window' to describe it's
> > interface prior to it's actual release. What about TopView? Was it pre 1983?
> > Probably not.
> >
> What about GEM the other real windowing software at the time?
>
Here's the text from a 1978 Business Week article. Note the quote from "Billy
Gates":
1978 McGraw-Hill, Inc., Business Week, October 23, 1978
Copyright 1978 McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Business Week
October 23, 1978, Industrial Edition
SECTION: INDUSTRIAL MARKETING; Pg. 62 G
LENGTH: 680 words
HEADLINE: Big memories that make the programming easier
BODY:
When Hewlett-Packard Co. took the wraps off two new computers this month, it may
finally have squelched any lingering doubts about the value of its big
investment in silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), an exotic semiconductor technology that
few merchant semiconductor companies have bothered to pursue. "SOS has let them
put a lot of power in a small package and run it off a 110-volt line," says
Richard J. Matlack, minicomputer analyst for Dataquest Inc., of Menlo Park,
Calif. "I'm very impressed."
Outsiders have wondered for six years whether HP's expensive (more than $5
million) SOS development program would ever pay off. Until now, integrated
circuits based on that technology have been used sparingly in HP's peripheral
equipment. But the HP 300 and its companion new entry, the HP 3000, Series 33,
are the first commercial computers with SOS central processing units. In both
products, a central processor that required nine printed-circuit boards in the
original HP 3000 has been reduced to three large-scale integrated circuits on
two boards. "Since 1974 we have been expanding the capability of the 3000 at
about the original price," says Richard E. Edwards, product manager for the
Series 33. "Now we're saying, 'Let's use the technology to drive down the
price.'"
Easier programming Of the two computers, the 300 is getting most attention.
About the size of a free-standing computer terminal, its price starts at
$36,500. With up to a million characters of main memory, the 300 approaches the
memory size of mainframe computers. "The largest IBM mainframe has eight
megabytes [8 million characters] of memory," says Paul C. Ely Jr., who heads
HP's Computer Systems Group. "We've put a megabyte in a machine that sells for
$60,000."
One conclusion to be drawn from that announcement, says Dataquest's Matlack, is
that "HP sells memory cheaper than anybody." Another is that HP has gone to
great lengths to make programming easier. "A programmer who doesn't have to
worry about memory size can work a lot faster," Matlack says. And HP has given
the 300 enough software and display innovations to cut programming steps in
half, claims Vijay Kapoor, product manager for the 300.
Initial reaction from customers is enthusiastic. "The 300 has incredible
potential" for a distributed system, says Billy V. Gates, data-processing
manager for Longs Drug Stores Inc. in Walnut Creek, Calif. "We are looking at
the possibility of distributing data processing to all our stores, and this is
the type of equipment we could do that with." The "windowing" feature on the 300
display screen, allowing various information files to be viewed simultaneously,
appeals to Gary G. Specker, data-processing head for General Mills Inc. "Many
times there is a problem because you can't see all your data on one screen," he
says. "Windowing is a beautiful solution."
Fewer applications
This kind of response encourages HP to believe that the 300 will lead a new
round in the distributed-processing revolution. While the 3000 often has been
sold for multiple applications in the divisions of large companies, the 300 is
designed to be dedicated to a few applications at the department level. "A true
general-purpose machine is out of the price range of most departments," says
Kapoor. "We have tailored the 300 to handle the functions critical to a
personnel department or a sales office."
If this concept catches on, HP could have a product at least as important as the
3000. It is likely to see more competition in distributed processing, especially
from International Business Machines Corp., which is expected to announce a
powerful new series of low-cost mainframe computers this fall. But David E.
Gold, a Saratoga (Calif.) consultant, points out that HP's machines are designed
for interactive use, while IBM's 370 series mainframes are not. "To the extent
that the new IBM machines are compatible with the 370," he suggests, "there will
be some performance deficiencies relative to HP."
Received on Wed Aug 14 2002 - 01:16:00 BST
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